from Around the Globe to You

Main Menu

USA Team of 4 Small Tour Combinations Named for Pan American Games

3 months ago admin
Comments Off on USA Team of 4 Small Tour Combinations Named for Pan American Games

June 26, 2019

The United States team of four Small Tour combinations for the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru July 28-31 was announced Wednesday, aiming to win the sixth straight continental championship title as a 2020 Tokyo Olympic start is already assured.

Three of the four have not competed outside the U.S. but two horses are nine years old and considered Grand Prix team prospects.

Pan American Games dressage competition is primarily at Small Tour, though teams seeking to qualify for the Olympics must include at least one Grand Prix combination. Canada and Mexico have announced their teams, both naming two Big Tour combinations and two at Small Tour. Brazil, another nation contending for a 2020 Olympic start, will announce its team within the next two days.

Big Tour combinations receive a bonus of 1.5% for both Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special scores that will count for team results.

For the U.S., Endel Ots and Lucky Strike is the only Small Tour duo to have competed outside the U.S.–at the 2015 and 2016 World Young Horse Championships.

However, both Sarah Lockman and First Apple and Endel and Lucky Strike are developing their nine-year-old horses to Grand Prix.

Scott Hassler, coach of Sarah and First Apple, said the pair have the Tokyo Olympics as the goal after the Pan Ams.

Jennifer Baumert on Handsome was on the American gold medal team at this year’s Nations Cup in Wellington, Florida in March.